Akoya Cultured Pearls
These saltwater pearls are cultivated in akoya oysters, mostly in Japan and China. They typically are roundish and 2mm to 9mm with a white, cream or pink body color and pink, silver or green overtone.

South Sea Cultured Pearls
Large saltwater pearls (averaging 10mm to 20mm) are cultivated in the oceans around Australia, Myanmar, Indonesia and other Pacific countries. They command premium prices for their size and thick nacre. They are round, off-round, and baroque (from pear shape to very irregular shapes. Saltwater pearls are most often seen in white, gold, and pastel shades.

Tahitian Cultured Pearls
Tahitian Cultured pearls are natural -color medium to very dark gray. Most are cultured in the saltwater of French Polynesia and grow as large in size and similar in shape as South Sea pearls. The most precious of these pearls have a peacock green overtone. other overtones are pink, aubergine, blue, gold, and silver.

Freshwater Cultured Pearls
These pearls are grown in lace and rivers in Japan, China, and the United States. Unique colors and shapes have made them popular among Jewelry Designers, though China is working hard to perfect rounds of the same size as Japanese akoya pearls. Colors include white, pink, lavender, peach, apricot, and beige.

Half, Blister & Mabe Cultured Pearls
These terms are often used interchangeably, but there are distinctions you and your customers should understand. Half pearls are ground or cut on one side, often to remove a blemish. Blister pearls grow attached to the inside of the mollusk and, when removed, one side is left flat with no nacre. Mabe pearls are created by gluing a half-bead (or other shaped nucleus) to the inside of the shell. Once covered with nacre, it's cut from the shell, the bead is removed, and the hole is filled with a paste and covered with a mother-of-pearl backing.

Handling
Because pearls are soft, they require special care. A pearl strand should be worn at least twice each month so it hangs properly. Contact with the skin also helps to keep the pearls moisturized. Pearls should be the last adornment put on and the first removed to avoid contact with chemicals such as hair spray or perfume.

Do not swim while wearing your pearls since salt water can ruin them. After each wearing, wipe pearls with a soft cloth. Jewelry cleaners and detergents are harsh.

The Cultural Pearl Information center suggests restringing pearls every two to four years. Store pearls in a silk or velvet-lined box away from other valuables to avoid surface damage.